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Five Premier League talking points: Title race over and the gap gets bigger
It may only be February, but the Premier League table looks as if it is almost as good as settled when it comes to the title race and which teams will exit vai the trap door come the end of the campaign.
It was a massive weekend at both ends of the table, leaving the race for European spots as the only chase with any real life in it.
Here are the biggest talking points from Matchday 26.
Ain't no stopping them now
Liverpool got their first win at the Etihad Stadium in nearly a decade on Sunday, as they cruised to a victory that saw them go eleven points clear at the top of the Premier League table.
For all the the talk of a 'mini-wobble' this was Liverpool at their controlled best, and it never looked like any other result would materialise once Mohamed Salah had put them in front.
There really cannot be anything now that stops the Reds from lifting the title, their first since 2020, which would cap off a remarkable first season in charge for Arne Slot.
It's hard to think of a better transition from a long-term successful manager than the way the Dutchman has followed - and then evolved - Jurgen Klopp's side.
Gunners cannot fire
Part of the reason for the title race looking over, came after Arsenal's toothless performance against West Ham on Saturday.
The Gunners' failure to bolster their attacking options in January has really come back to haunt them as they laboured in front of goal in their 1-0 defeat to West Ham.
More worryingly, it was the lack of spark from the rest of the side that added to Mikel Arteta's woes, with his side registering just two efforts on target and never really looking like getting back into the game.
The defeat now means their title hopes are surely over for another season.
PA
The race for Europe
With the title race all but settled, the run-in's entertainment could come from the fascinating race for European places.
With the Premier League set to earn a fifth Champions League place, and the way the Carabao Cup and FA Cup finals could pan out, the European spots could go down as far as ninth in the table.
Who ends where is anyone's guess, however.
Forest's Champions League ambitions took a blow at St James' Park to allow Newcastle to close the gap on them, while Villa's win over Chelsea means they are back in the running, too.
Brighton and Brentford's thumping wins mean they are still very much in the conversation for European finishes as well.
There's sure to be plenty more twists and turns before May.
Mind the gap
At the bottom of the league, it's looking increasingly likely that for the second season in a row, the three promoted sides will be relegated at the first attempt.
It would be the first time in Premier League history that all three promoted teams have failed to survive in two consecutive seasons, and it is not a good look for the gap that seems to be getting bigger between the top flight and the Championship.
It was felt even more keenly this weekend, as Leicester, Ipswich and Southampton all shipped four goals in home defeats to sides who started the weekend in mid-table.
Not good news for the likes of Leeds, Burnley and Sheffield United, who are looking the likeliest to try to buck the trend next season.
Mo to bag the Golden Ball
Mo Salah is up to 25 league goals for the season, and his goal and double assist against Man City was the eleventh time he had achieved that feat in a match this season.
The last player to rack up those kinds of numbers was Lionel Messi in his Barcelona pomp, and it only adds to calls that this should be a Ballon d'Or winning year for the Egyptian King.
Now, about that new contract...
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